FAQ about Corona virus
Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, there may be special conditions for entering Switzerland. With the Travelcheck of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) you can check whether and under which conditions you are allowed to enter Switzerland.
In principle, from Monday, 20 September 2021, all persons aged 16 and over who have not been vaccinated or have not recovered must present a negative test (antigen or PCR) on entry - regardless of where and how they enter Switzerland. After four to seven days in Switzerland, another test carried out in Switzerland is required. This test is subject to a fee. The result must be sent to the competent cantonal office.
For vaccinated and recovered persons with a Covid certificate or other valid proof of vaccination or recovery, no testing obligation applies. The vaccination must have been carried out with a vaccine authorised in Switzerland or by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or with a vaccine on the WHO list. Anyone who has been vaccinated with other vaccines must have a test carried out for entry into Switzerland.
All persons entering Switzerland must also complete the entry form (Passenger Locator Form, SwissPLF).
Infoline of the FOPH for persons entering Switzerland: T +41 58 464 44 88, daily 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
Last update on 09-17-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
From 13 September 2021, the Covid certificate will be compulsory (from the age of 16) in the following places:
- Restaurant and bars (including those of hotel establishments).
- Discos and dance halls
- SAC huts
- Cultural and leisure facilities such as museums, libraries, zoos, fitness centres, sports facilities, climbing gyms, indoor swimming pools, thermal baths, aqua parks, billiard halls or casinos
- Events such as concerts, theatre, cinema, sporting events, private events such as weddings in locations open to the public.
- Trade and public fairs
The Covid certificate obligation also applies to outdoor events with more than 1000 people.
Guests without a certificate in establishments or at events where a certificate is required may be fined CHF 100.
Last update on 09-10-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
The following locations will not require a certificate after 13 September 2021:
- Outdoor areas of catering establishments such as terraces.
- Public transport, including mountain railways
- Overnight stays in hotels and campsites (access to restaurant/bar only with certificate)
- Retail trade
- private events in private premises up to 30 persons
- religious events up to a maximum of 50 persons
- services provided by public authorities
- personal services, such as hairdressing salons, therapeutic and counselling services (e.g. banks and information centres)
In these areas, mouth/nose protection must still be worn and, whenever possible or prescribed, the distance (1.5 metres) to other persons must be maintained.
Last update on 09-15-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
No Covid certificate is required in public transport and mountain railways. The usual protective measures apply, such as mandatory masks and keeping your distance. Mouth-nose protection is not required in open waiting areas and chairlifts.
Last update on 09-15-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
No certificate is required for overnight stays in hotels. Guests and staff wear mouth-nose protection in the accommodation. Guests may remove the mouth-nose protection in their personal rooms (guest rooms). Access to the indoor areas of restaurants and bars in the hotel, on the other hand, is only permitted for persons with a certificate (required from the age of 16).
A certificate is also not required for a stay in a holiday flat. Here, the rules for private meetings apply (max. 30 persons indoors).
However, a Covid certificate is required for those who stay in an SAC hut and consume indoors.
Last update on 09-15-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
The indoor areas of restaurants and bars are only accessible to people with a certificate (mandatory from the age of 16). All protective measures such as the obligation to wear a mask and the minimum distance do not apply.
In the outdoor areas of restaurants, there is no certificate requirement and no need to wear mouth-nose protection. However, the required distance (1.5 metres) must be maintained between groups of guests if there are no separating elements.
Last update on 09-15-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
Detailed information on the valid Covid certificates can be found on the corresponding information page of the Federal Office of Public Health.
Guests from the EU/EFTA/Schengen area (analogous to Switzerland):
Entry and access to indoor rooms/events subject to certification possible without problems with the existing Covid certificates (connected to the EU Digital Covid Certificate).
Guests from third countries outside EU/EFTA/Schengen (vaccinated with an EMA vaccine, i.e. Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen/Johnson&Johnson, AstraZeneca and all licences such as Covishield, etc.):
Guests from third countries (outside the EU / EFTA / Schengen) who have been vaccinated with an EMA vaccine can apply for a Swiss Covid certificate via the following platform: covidcertificate-form.admin.ch/foreign. The conversion costs CHF 30.00 and must be paid by the person making the application. It can take up to five days until the Covid certificate is available.
Guests from third countries outside the EU/EFTA/Schengen (vaccinated with other vaccines):
These persons are subject to compulsory testing upon entry and for access to areas that are subject to certification. For first-time vaccinated persons and adolescents up to 16 years of age, these tests are free of charge (provisionally until the end of November 2021).
30-day certificate for those vaccinated with Sinovac and Sinopharm
From the end of November 2021, tourists who have been vaccinated with a vaccine approved only by the WHO will also be able to obtain a Swiss certificate. Currently, this concerns the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines. The validity period is limited to 30 days. The certificate is only valid in Switzerland. The conversion of the vaccination certificate costs CHF 30.00, which must be paid by the applicant. How and where exactly the certificate can be obtained is currently still being worked out by the authorities.
Last update on 11-05-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
In the holiday region of Heidiland, you can get tested at various places, including pharmacies and doctors' surgeries, and in the canton of Graubünden also at cantonal test centres.
In the holiday region of Heidiland, the Tamina Therme in Bad Ragaz now also operates a test centre that is open to the entire public without prior registration. The walk-in test station is located in front of the entrance to the Tamina Therme. The tests can be carried out daily from 11:00 to 22:00 (Sat-Thu) and on Fridays from 11:00 to 23:00. The result or certificate is sent directly to the Covid app after a waiting time of around 15 minutes. The quick test is currently free of charge. Test persons must bring a valid ID (ID, passport) and a health insurance card.
Last update on 09-23-2021 by Adrian Pfiffner.
In case of cancellations and possible cancellation costs in connection with Covid-19, we ask you to contact the landlord/landlady directly. The insurance benefits and insurance cover must be clarified on an individual basis.
Last update on 09-10-2021 by Johanna Bergthaler.
The Heidiland tourist offices in Bad Ragaz and Flumserberg are open. The team at the headquarter can also be reached during usual business hours.
Last update on 09-10-2021 by Johanna Bergthaler.
